This book explores the tenacity of Irans informal settlements against the backdrop of the World Banks USD 80 million loan for physical upgrading. Arefi seeks to identify and unravel the distinctive models, policies, processes, and outcomes associated with it, and explains whydespite obvious challengesinformal settlements remain popular in Iran, and also how understanding them in a broader theoretical context helps rectify existing redevelopment policies in order to develop more effective ones.  

Mahyar Arefi is Professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, USA. As a recipient of several awards and scholarships, he writes extensively on planning and urban design issues, and his latest book,Deconstructing Placemaking: Needs, Opportunities and Assetswas published in 2014.

1. Introduction.- 2. Revisiting the Informal Settlement Phenomenon.- 3. Informal Settlements and Urban Management in Iran.- 4. The World Bank's Slum Upgrading Programs in LDCS.- 5. Five Iranian Target Cities.- 6. Empowering Slums in Iran.- 7. Data Collection.- 8. From Goals to Outcomes.- 9. The Four Failures (Challenges).- 10. The Empowerment Paradox.